Wyclef Jean and his Music Videos

Updated December 31, 2012 7:45 AM

One of the most important personalities in Hip-Hop music, was born in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti on October 17, 1972 and moved to the US at the age of 10. He first entered the spotlight in 1993 with the release of the Fugees debut LP, Blunted On Reality. The groups name was inspired by the plight of refugees from Haiti and other members included rapper/actress Lauryn Hill, and Clefs cousin Prakazrel Pras Michel. 1996s The Score was a huge success selling over 6 million copies and earning 2 Grammy Awards for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (Killing Me Softly) and Best Rap Album.

In 1997 Wyclef released his debut solo album The Carnival which went platinum, with help from steady radio-play and massive MTV rotation for the single Gone Til November. During his acceptance speech for the MTV Music Video Award for Best R&B Video, Wyclef spoke about the movie How Stella Got Her Groove Back (for which he a contributed a song on the soundtrack): I was saddened and offended to see my country (Haiti) used as a brunt of an AIDS joke in the movie... AIDS is a crisis and not a... comedy.

His second CD Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book went gold. He also produced several hits for other artists including Whitney Houston's smash hit "My Love" and Carlos Santana's "Maria Maria." His production company Fugee Camp features upcoming new artists such as his brother and sister who perform as Melky Sedeck.

In the Year 2001, Wyclef lost his father, a Preacher who had a great influence on his life the week of September 11th. A somber Clef later appeared on the 9-11 Telethon singing Bob Marley's "Redemption Song."

In 2002 he decided to release not one but two new albums, "The Masquerade" and "MVP", one in English and the other in Creole. In an interview with Afiwi Clef spoke about the album, "It's supposed to be my deepest album out of the three (3)." "The Masquerade" debuted in the top 10 on the Billboard chart.

An enigmatic performer Wyclef plays several instruments on stage while rapping in English, Creole, Spanish and even Japanese. He has also dabbled in acting with Roles in the movie "Shottas" (2001) also starring Ky-Mani Marley and Spragga Benz and TV's "Carmen: A Hip Hopera." His foundation The Wyclef Jean Foundation to promotes musical education among kids.

Despite his fame and fortune, Wyclef stays firmly grounded to his roots, he is perhaps the most easily recognizable Haitian on the planet. In an interview with Kompa Magazine when asked if he considered himself to be more Haitian or American, he replied "Im 100% Haitian. Im proud to be Haitian. I still have my Haitian passport. I represent Haiti in everything that I do. Every head in the industry knows that Im Haitianâ€¦ they know what Im about. I was Haitian first. Haiti till I die!"

Wyclef Jean and his Music Videos

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